The Correlation Between Car Accidents and Mental Health Issues
Mental health issues are incredibly common in the United States, ranging in severity from occasional mild depressive spells to full-blown psychotic disorders that completely disconnect an individual from reality. The connection between car accidents and mental health problems is complicated but important if you are involved in a collision.
If another person’s unsafe driving has left you injured and struggling, don’t take on the insurance company alone. Let the team at Peake & Fowler help you. Call us at 803-998-2412 to set up a consultation now.
How Mental Health Issues Can Make You Prone to Collisions
Mental health concerns have a ripple effect on your life, affecting basically everything you think, say, and do. It should be no surprise, then, that they can affect your driving and your response to obstacles. A number of symptoms associated with mental illness can also make driving more challenging.
Consider depression, for example—people with severe depression often feel like they move more slowly than others and exhibit slower reaction times. This can be dangerous if you’re forced to react to an obstacle while driving. On the other hand, consider bipolar disorder and other disorders characterized by manic episodes.
People in the midst of a manic episode tend to make risky decisions, feel that they are invincible, and do things just for the thrill of it. Someone in this state of mind is likely to make an unsafe decision when driving. Note, though, that this doesn’t apply across the board. The vast majority of people with mental health disorders are safe and careful drivers, and it’s important to avoid stigmatizing mental health concerns.
What Role Car Accidents Play in Mental Health Concerns
Just like mental health issues can increase an individual’s risk of car accidents, car accidents can make an individual more likely to develop mental health concerns. Think about the amount of trauma the body goes through in a car crash.
In just a few moments, an individual processes what’s about to happen and all of the potential outcomes. In the aftermath, they are left dealing with their injuries, the intense fear they experienced, and the knowledge that it could have been worse. This is a lot to deal with, and for some, it leads to chronic mental health issues.
A range of conditions may arise after a serious car accident. Anxiety and depression are fairly common diagnoses, with conditions in these categories varying widely in severity. People involved in severe or catastrophic accidents are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, a serious mental health issue that can completely change how you interact with the world. People with PTSD may struggle to continue working, maintain relationships with loved ones, and live their daily lives as they used to.
Legal Options for Victims
Mental health needs are just as important as physical health needs, which is why it’s so important to seek mental health treatment after an accident. Perhaps you’re afflicted with recurring nightmares or intrusive flashbacks of the accident, or maybe you’re so worried about being in another crash that you’re afraid to get in your car again. Regardless, talking to a counselor, therapist, or psychiatrist can help you come up with a treatment plan and a path that gets you closer to feeling yourself again.
If you plan on seeking compensation via a personal injury claim, you can push to have your mental health expenses and your mental trauma covered by your settlement. This type of trauma can change your life forever, and you don’t deserve to carry it on your own. A fair settlement should allow you to get the psychiatric treatment you need to recover; it should also fairly compensate you for the mental anguish you’ve gone through as a result of the other party’s negligence.
Working with an attorney is key to getting what you deserve after an accident.
Start Your Claim Today—Call Peake & Fowler
If you’ve been involved in a car accident that has left you overwhelmed and scared, let us help. We’re here to support you as you seek compensation. Set up a time to talk to our team right away by getting in touch online or giving us a call at 803-998-2412.
